At least a dozen sub-Saharan African nations are due to hold presidential or parliamentary elections in 2016. Check out the expert briefings, articles and other material on our interactive elections resource.

Slums play a central role in Ghanaian politics. The way that they are really governed, how “hidden” informal networks interact with formal politics, and how citizens hold their leaders to account, are too often overlooked.

Jeffrey Paller argues that as Ghana’s cities grow the challenge will be to prevent the creation of more informal settlements, the rise of unregulated transport systems and the deepening of urban inequalities.